Rob Walton’s father, Samuel Walton, founded Wal-Mart in 1962. The family now owns a 50.9% stake in the company that’s worth $131 billion and paid out $2.5 billion in dividends last year. The dividends alone would be enough to pay every one of Wal-Mart’s 1.3 million U.S. employees nearly $2,000 in cash.

Consider Rob Walton, for example: Besides houses in Aspen, Colo., and Paradise Valley, Ariz., at least a half dozen vintage cars, and the recent purchase of 1,500 acres of land in Hawaii for a planned resort, you would be hard-pressed to find many signs of his outrageous wealth.

and let’s not forget:

While the average wage of Wal-Mart associates is the subject of some dispute (OUR Walmart claims that most make less than $9 per hour, an estimate based on data from IBISWorld and Glassdoor.com, while Wal-Mart pegs the figure at $11.83), there’s little doubt that many of the store’s workers are stuck below the poverty line, currently $23,550 for a family of four.

A study by congressional Democrats suggested that low wages at a single Wal-Mart could be costing taxpayers as much as $900,000 per year, due to employees using programs like food stamps and Medicaid.

No, BB, it isn’t just you. There are just a lot of people in the world that need a lesson. Speaking of which …

Rush Limbaugh is going after Pope Francis just in time for the Christmas season.

The outspoken conservative pundit blasted the Pope this week after the pontiff released a new 50,000 word document, titled “Evangelli Gaudium” (The Joy of Gospel), calling for church reforms and criticizing certain ideas of capitalism.

Limbaugh, whose nationally syndicated radio show is no stranger to controversial rhetoric, called Francis’ latest statement “pure Marxism.”

“It’s sad because this pope makes it very clear he doesn’t know what he’s talking about when it comes to capitalism and socialism and so forth,” Limbaugh wrote.

Would you like to discuss who is waging the war on christian “values” now or should we just read Snowflake Snookie’s selling really badly kid’s book? Or perhaps watch Rick Santorum’s movie? Shop for gifts at Walmart?

The basketball players said they were waiting for a bus in Rochester, N.Y., to take them to a scrimmage when police asked them to leave the area. When 17-year-old Deaquon Carelock and 16-year-olds Raliek Redd and Wan’Tauhjs Weathers pushed back against the officer’s request, saying they were following instructions from their coach, police arrested them. The teens were later charged with two counts of disorderly conduct.

“You’re just downtown minding your own business and the next thing you know, anything can happen,” Carelock said in video captured by WHEC.

“We tried to tell them that we were waiting for the bus,” Weathers added. “We weren’t catching a city bus, we were catching a yellow bus. He didn’t care. He arrested us anyways.”

Police say the teens were obstructing pedestrian traffic and repeatedly ignored orders to disperse, according to a police report obtained by FOX station WROC. Police had been keeping an eye on the area after receiving complaints of loitering from a nearby store. The students’ coach said he had no reason to think they were causing trouble.

“My guys were waiting for the bus like they normally do,” Jacob Scott, the student’s basketball coach, said. “I get to the scene after parking my car and three of my guys are handcuffed.”

Really like your recent postings Dak. I’ve been thinking about the situation this country is in, and how my own family faced it back then, and how wicked things have come my way. Retiring, and having medical issues (both of us), and losing the only home we worked for over 35 years…………all gone to Wells Fargo.

The things most important are the kids, and grandkids now, doing and making things and loving it when the little ones tells me I am the wise granny. I’ve gotten real creative at crafting, and alot of time is spent gathering up the goods and making do with what I have to work with. I have been going through my “old Christmas stuff” and sharing the stories with the kids, why the little red velvet cat gets the honor of being placed on the tree first, and gg grandma made this for her tree, and now it will go to my grandchildren. I’ve shared photos, and read a few letters to them, here’s one I will share with you all.

4 Jan 1911

Guess you think you aren’t going to hear fro me any more. It’s been three months, but we’ve been busy, mama and papa, they are so tired at night, that they can write. Yesterday, mama and I went and made a garden. We dug it up and worked it. We sowed some lettuce, cabbage and radish seed. Papa brought two rolls of barbed wire so has been putting the wire around the side and front, and will turn the colts and cow in on the grass.

We faired well this Christmas. I will tell you what we all got. Mama got six water glasses from me, a fine linen table cloth, and a dozen napkins, and two doilies from Sadie. Pearl gave mama and papa a nice new clock, and papa got a dozen handkerchiefs from Oliver. Mama and I gave him a black tie and shaving pad. I got a pin jar from Anna, and some material to make a comforter. Mama and papa gave me a cup and saucer, and one dollar. Sadie gave me a box of paper to write letters. Aunt Bessie gave me 4 embroidered handkerchiefs, and Gladys gave me a song book, and George gave me a calendar, and the prettiest thing was from Leslie, she gave me the looking glass that goes with my set. And Otis gave me some paper dolls to dress.

All of got some nuts, and candy, and oranges. They were wrapped in the very pretty hair ribbons. We were all very much thankful for all the presents. I hope you all will come to a visit. We made some sour kraut. Don’t you all want to come and eat dinner with us. Two and half gallons of sour kraut goes for fifteen cents. Write and give us your news.

I long for the simple ways of life, and not all this stepping on people to get on with living.

Thank you for sharing that, Fannie. I have some letters my grandmother wrote. She had lots of grandchildren and wanted more. I understand that now. the older I get the more I realize that nothing matters more than family–especially making life better for the children. I don’t have kids of my own, but I’ve had the privilege of helping to bring up my nephews. They are so precious to me. Some days they are all that keeps me going.

I think you are the greatest BB………as a result of your involvement with your nephews, they will always look back with you in their hearts. Sometimes we all get so busy, that we don’t make the time for others, and we all need to reach out, even with the kids takes up a mountain of energy from you. I love to hear your sweet stories, and those from others too.
Ralph you wow me too, and Mouse I am always impressed with your concerns. I always look to the skydancers, they are all skyhigh.

That is so wonderful Fannie! I know how important grandparents can be! I have seen it in the lives of my girls and also I remember my dad’s parents and how important they were to me. They centered me on what us important in life.

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The Sky Dancing banner headline uses a snippet from a work by artist Tashi Mannox called 'Rainbow Study'. The work is described as a" study of typical Tibetan rainbow clouds, that feature in Thanka painting, temple decoration and silk brocades". dakinikat was immediately drawn to the image when trying to find stylized Tibetan Clouds to represent Sky Dancing. It is probably because Tashi's practice is similar to her own. His updated take on the clouds that fill the collection of traditional thankas is quite special.

You can find his work at his website by clicking on his logo below. He is also a calligraphy artist that uses important vajrayana syllables. We encourage you to visit his on line studio.